sans-culotte
Parisian working-class rebel
A sans-culotte was a radical republican of the lower classes during the French Revolution—literally "without knee-breeches," because they wore long trousers rather than the aristocratic culottes.
The term distinguished working-class revolutionaries from the wealthy.
It now serves as a historical reference or, occasionally, a label for militant populists: The movement attracted sans-culottes eager to overthrow the establishment.
1790s French extremist
- guillotineVertical beheading apparatus
- RobespierreRevolutionary who devoured himself
- BastilleParis fortress-prison
- MaratFrench revolutionary journalist
Reign of Terror · National Convention · September Massacres · insurrection · republican · 1789 · Tuileries · Convention
One holding fringe views
- militantAggressive cause supporter
- agitatorOne who foments discord
- firebrandAgitator or burning stick
- zealotObsessive cause supporter
insurgent · dechristianization · revolutionary tribunal · denunciation · maximum · terror · purge · faction
Rule by hereditary elite
- nobilityTitled ruling class
- privilegeExclusive right or benefit
- ancien régimeReplaced system of governance
- monarchyRule by crowned sovereign
courtier · Versailles · émigré · tyranny · oppression · inequality · resentment · contempt
Skilled manual tradesperson
- laborerPhysical task performer
- shopkeeperSmall store manager
- tradesmanSkilled manual worker
- cobblerShoe repair artisan
carpenter · blacksmith · tailor · journeyman · apprentice · workshop · manual labor · toil
Jacobin
1790s French extremist
- guillotineVertical beheading apparatus
- RobespierreRevolutionary who devoured himself
- BastilleParis fortress-prison
Marat · Reign of Terror · National Convention · September Massacres · insurrection · republican · 1789 · Tuileries · Convention · cockade
extremist
One holding fringe views
zealot · insurgent · dechristianization · revolutionary tribunal · denunciation · maximum · terror · purge · faction · assembly
aristocracy
Rule by hereditary elite
- nobilityTitled ruling class
- privilegeExclusive right or benefit
- ancien régimeReplaced system of governance
monarchy · courtier · Versailles · émigré · tyranny · oppression · inequality · resentment · contempt · citizen
artisan
Skilled manual tradesperson
- laborerPhysical task performer
- shopkeeperSmall store manager
- tradesmanSkilled manual worker
cobbler · carpenter · blacksmith · tailor · journeyman · apprentice · workshop · manual labor · toil · poverty
sans-culottearistocrat
Person of noble birth
noble · aristocracy · nobility · bourgeoisie · royalist